Learn How to String Beads on Cord: Necklace Edition

July 1, 2022
Beading, Jewelry Guide, Jewelry Hacks

Beaders eventually progress to more complicated designs, and among the most popular designs are multistrand bracelets.

Learning how to string beads on the cord is easier if you know the basic techniques and the properties of a stretch cord, which is probably one of the first stringing materials that modern crafters encounter when shopping physically or online.

Either way, don’t forget that the quality of your beaded creations is only equal to the quality of your beading supplies.

Xinar has been selling high-quality jewelry-making supplies for over two decades. Within this time, we have refined our selections, and we now provide the most precise collections of beads and findings, as well as silver charms for every occasion.

Troubleshooting Steps: How to String Bead on Cord Effectively

How to string beads on cordstrands of varying lengths?

To create a necklace with graded strands, try to string each strand slightly longer than the one above it so that the necklace drapes around the neck nicely. The length of each new strand depends on the desired appearance and the size of the beads, but a reasonable starting point is to make each strand 1.5″ to 2″ longer. Determine the length of the shortest (top) strand first to avoid creating a necklace that would suffocate you.

How to string beads on cord while joining two strands seamlessly to a single strand clasp?

To convert to a single-strand clasp, crimp the two strands together and then attach the remaining strand to the clasp. One method for concealing the initial crimp is to use a crimp cover to make it appear like a spherical metal bead in the design. Optionally, a decorative accent bead with a broader hole can be used to cover the connection, allowing the folded crimp to slide within it. This is how it works:

String a few smaller seed beads (11° or 8°) on either end before stringing a bead across both strands, the crimp, and the ornamental bead, so that the two strands sit flush next to one another.

Confirm that the folded crimp will fit within the hole of the decorative bead by testing the hole.
The more minor folded crimp should also fit if the basic crimp fits. If your decorative bead is made of metal, such as a Bali silver bead, you can use a reamer or broach to enlarge the hole until the crimp fits inside.
Finish the necklace as you usually would for a single-strand necklace.

How do I use a cone/beading cone?

The mystery object known as a cone is the final step in constructing a multistrand object. Before installing a clasp, beading cones are used to collect multistrand motifs or woven wires at the ends of a necklace. Additionally, cones are frequently used to create jewelry tassels.

The cone is a bridge to a single-strand clasp and a decorative covering for a collection of strands. This is the approach to employ if you want a multistrand necklace with clumping strands.

A cone is a graded, open-ended cylinder meant to join three to twelve strands and conceal the crimps or knots used to finish the strands. Cones are offered in an extensive range of widths and lengths to fit various bead sizes and strand counts.

Here is one method for joining multiple-strand necklaces with a cone:

Cut a 3-inch length of 18- or 20-gauge wire and form a simple or wrapped loop at one end. Test the loop to ensure it fits and is concealed within the cone.
Crimp or knot all the strands into the wire loop and, if necessary, add smaller beads to the ends, so the strands taper to fit within the cone.
Insert the straight end of the wire into the broad end of the cone and tighten all strand connections within the cone.
Form a second loop in the wire at the top of the cone and connect it to the clasp’s ring. Add a bead after the cone but before the loop for embellishment.
A different approach substitutes flexible beading wire for the standard wire.
Cut a 4-inch length of flexible beading wire. Make a tiny loop using one end of the crimp tube. Fold and crimp the tube tightly.
Use the crimp tube to secure the end.
String a second crimp tube, a bead, and a cushion bead; then, feed the string through the clasp’s ring and back through the bead, crimp tube, and cone.
Fold and crimp the tube tightly.

The beaded strands need not entirely fit within the cone. However, if they do not nestle into the cone sufficiently to conceal the loop and crimps or knots, add a few smaller beads to either end of the strands or use more enormous cones.

Tackling Difficult Stringing Situations

How do you fit beads into the clasp while building a three-strand piece?

If you attempt to fit larger beads into a smaller multistrand clasp, the beads will cluster and not lie flat. Two solutions exist for this issue:

As you approach the clasp, switch to smaller beads, so they perfectly fit side by side when crimped into the clasp. This is essential in your learning of how to string beads on cord.

Purchase a clasp with an increased number of holes and leave some of the holes unfilled to make extra space for the bigger beads. For example, you may purchase a five-strand clasp for your three-strand necklace and crimp the strands into the first, third, and fifth holes. The second and fourth empty holes will be hardly evident in the completed necklace.

How can you utilize the focal point of a Chinese pendant that doesn’t have a hole for regular stringing?

One alternative is to thread the left and right sides of the necklace individually, looping each side through the pendant’s bar, as seen below. Consider the following recommendations before you begin:

Use the biggest flexible beading wire that fits twice through all of your beads.
Cover each piece of wire as it wraps around the bar with a French coil for an excellent finish.
Alternately, use beading wire with a color coating that complements the pendant and the completed necklace.
Attach a clasp to either end of both strands as usual.

Some additional steps:

Cut two lengths of beading wire to the desired necklace length plus three inches.
String a length of French coil. The French coil must be long enough to wrap around and cover the bar in one piece. Slide it to the middle and wind the wire around the pendant bar’s leftmost side.
String several smaller beads, followed by a pattern of beads on both strands for that side of the necklace.
Add a crimp, a bumper bead, and then the clasp to the end, then thread both strands. They should move back through the crimp, bumper bead, and at least half an inch of beads (in total) on the strand you’re working on.
Temporarily secure the strand with clear tape or a stopper clip.
Repeat steps 2 through 5 for the necklace’s right side.
Check and modify the length, balance, and amount of slack on each beaded strand of the necklace.
Close by securing the crimps.

Alternately, a two-strand necklace may be created by passing both strands through a bigger bead on each side of the pendant and then connecting each wire strand separately to the back.

How to string beads on cord if the you have to restring a snapped, three-strand necklace that has larger silver beads that are not as broad as the beading cone in a way that the ends remain concealed? Solving this problem with an existing necklace can be difficult. Others may attempt to repair only the damaged strand; however, you are correct to restring the complete necklace with beading wire. When one strand of thread begins to fray, likely, the others will soon follow.

Try this when there is insufficient space to crimp numerous strands of beads into a strong wire loop using the usual cone method. Instead, use a short loop of beading wire with a single crimp to connect the strands, then conceal the loop and crimp within the large-holed bead as follows:

Cut a 5-inch length of flexible beading wire.
String a crimp bead, bend the wire in half, and secure both ends with clear tape or a stopper clip. (This is the loop of beading wire.)
Cut a piece of wire for each strand, leaving some excess wire at each end.
Securely crimp one end of each strand within the constructed loop.
Remove the tape or clip and thread both ends of the wire loop through the larger end of the bead with big holes.
Insert one wire end through the clasp ring and the second end through the crimp bead to form the loop.
Adjust the loop size on both ends, ensuring that most of the loop, the crimp, and the ends of the three strands are concealed within the large-holed bead.
Remove the crimp from the top of the large-holed bead with care and tighten the loop once more. Next, flatten and fold the crimp, then spin the loop with pliers to conceal the crimp within.
String the beads onto the three strands one by one; temporarily fasten each end with tape or a clip until all are complete.
Prepare a second short length of beading wire in the same manner as the first, correct the ease on each strand, and crimp the second end of each strand into the second piece of wire.
Repeat steps six to eight in the second cycle.

If this way of creating a single crimp seems too complicated, you can utilize the second approach outlined above for working with ordinary cones. It produces an additional crimp tube above the bead with big holes. If desired, it can be concealed within a cushion bead with bigger holes strung after the crimp.

If I want to build a necklace without a clasp and my beads are too small to allow the wire to pass through twice, how can I finish the necklace so that it is secure and attractive?

You can use two-cylinder crimps for added strength on a strand without a clasp. One effective remedy is to add a group of beads with wider holes around the crimps so that no wire ends emerge to scrape the neck. Then, to create symmetry and help the crimps integrate into the pattern, add a cluster of large-hole beads on either side and between the crimps.

Remember this tip on how to string beads on cord: beads with larger holes do not generally have a greater diameter than beads with smaller holes.

Consider using 8° or 6° glass seed beads or 3mm sterling silver or gold-filled large-hole hollow metal beads for beads with space for two strands of the most flexible beading wire. You may opt to include the large-hole beads into the necklace’s design for balance.

Typically, a necklace at least 24″ long will fit over the head; swingy rope-style necklaces can be as long as 36″. Use heavy.024 wire on longer necklaces wherever possible. They must be sturdy enough to endure the additional pulling of toddlers and the tendency to catch on furniture.

To plan the necklace, measure or estimate the length of the part with the large-hole beads. Then, adjust the amount from the length of the necklace’s main body or length.

Additionally, you must ensure that the focal bead or front center remains centered. The two sides of the necklace are strung to the same length, and then large-hole beads and crimps are added to one end. Complete as for the necklace without a clasp.

Can I construct a necklace using both wire and thread?

A piece of jewelry may occasionally mix wire and thread manufacturing techniques. If the pattern is written using only thread, you may make a work more durable by stringing the base on flexible beading wire. Such instances include:

Branching coral and looping methods
Some netted designs

Typically, the initial row of beads can be strung on flexible beading wire and crimped to produce a sturdy basis; the thread-woven beadwork is then sewn onto this base. In addition to giving structure to a complicated design, the wire foundation row can, if needed, provide support for a bigger focal bead.

Beading wire can be inserted through the center of a crocheted rope bracelet or necklace so that bead caps and a clasp can be added. Some beaded ring designs have a thread-woven top (typically a version of right-angle weave) and a stretch band that allows the ring to accommodate various finger sizes.

How to String Beads on Cord Made of Leather

I’m interested in building a new necklace utilizing leather and beads. What is the most straightforward approach to completing this task?

Necklaces strung on leather frequently have a rustic, informal appearance. As a result, certain males are eager to wear this jewelry style. Another reason to learn how to string beads on cord. Beads having big holes, such as large-hole lampwork beads, ceramic beads, faceted roller beads, or pony beads, are required for stringing on leather (huge seed beads). Test your bead holes on the intended cable.

Leather cord is offered in round forms.

5mm, 1mm, and 2mm in diameter, whereas flat leather or suede thong, is between 18″ and 116″ broad.

Both are available in several hues. Synthetic leather round cord resembles leather but is more challenging and durable, particularly in the narrow. Again, 5 and 1mm sizes are available.

How can I complete the edges of the leather?

You may use one of the various types of findings to complete the ends and connect the clasp. A round coil crimp end is constructed from spiral-shaped wire. A flat, fold-over metal crimp end is optimal for use with a flat leather thong. Each design features a loop for connecting the clasp. To crimp the ends of leather cord:

Apply adhesive to the leather end.
Insert the leather end into a coil or a fold-over crimp end.
Using chain nose pliers, flatten the final wrap on the coil’s end sufficiently to grasp the cord without cutting it.
Using the pliers, fold each side of the fold-over design over the leather to overlap and fasten the leather.
For a casual necklace, tie knots at the ends of the rope so it may be slipped over the head and then tightened. Like a thread, a leather cord is not indestructible. It must be changed as it begins to dry out.